jcrnntoti 'Jl' JI'V 4444-v$ TWO CENTS. SCUANTON, PA.. MONDAY MOKN1NG, AUGUST 18, 1900. TWO OENT9. Pvbh CHINA'S DE5 IS Earl Li Given Authority to Negotiate with the Powers. ANOTHER IMPERIAL EDICT A Proposition That Hostilities Shall Cease Pending Negotiations To wards Settlement of Questions of Importance The United States Government Will Continue to Press on to the Relief of Representatives at Pekin Minister Conger Tele graphs to General Chaffee That He Will Hold on Until Relief Arrives. Washington, Aug. 12. Indications or the desire of China for n peaceful set tlement of her pu-oiit dltllculties hav been multiplying fr several days. Of ficial evidence of that desire was ple sented to the department of state to day. It was In the form of an edict promulgated by the emperor, 1 1 wans Hsu, appointing L.irl LI Huns Chang ns envoy plenipotentiary to negotiate with the poweis for an "Immediate cessation of hnstilltles,'' pending a so lution of the problems which hav grown out of the nntl-forcigii upilslng In the emplie. Karl LI Hung Chang Is to act directly for the emperor, nnd a fair Inference Is that whatever trims of settlement he may reach with the powers will be approved by the Im perial government. Duilng the day only one dispatch that was made public 1 cached any of the government depaitmcnts from China. A belated message fiom Min ister Conger was tiansmltted to the war (lepaitment by Ciencial Chaffee. It e.prcssed simply his ability to "hold on" until General Clvirfee should enmo to his relief. All the poweis of this government will be exerted to get that f relief to him and the Imprisoned lega tloneis at the earliest possible, mo ment. Minister Wu was an early caller at the department of state. Shortly after 9 o'clock ho made an engagement with Acting Secretary of State Adee to meet him at the department at 11.30 o'clcok. Promptly at that hour the ministers automobile stopped at the west en trance of the department, and Mr. Wu alighted and hurried to Secretary Adee's olllce. He piesented to Mr. Adee a copy of the Imperial edict, which he had received last nlijht. It had been transmitted to him In Chi nese fiuelgn olllce cipher, and Its translation and preparation for sub mission to the department of state had occupied much of the night. Minister Wu remained with Secretary Adee for three-quarters: of an hour discussing the terms of the edlut and the probable response 1 1 It of this Rrvcrnment. Shortly before Minister Wu left the department Secretary of War Root Joined the two diplomatists, lutt remained only long enough to ob tain a copy of the edict and discus It briefly with the Chinese minister. Minister Wu expressed the belief that the edict presented a means of peace ful adjustment of the piesent trouble and that the request of the Chinese government for a cessation of hostili ties pending peace negotiations waH entirely reasonable. Immediately upon the conclusion of the conference the text of the edict, together with the detnils of Minister Wu wns communi cated to President McKInley at Can ton. The president's reply as yet has not been received. Tho Imperial Edict. Late In tho day Acting Secretary Adee made public the text of the edict in tho following statement: The department of state makes pub lic tho following Imperial edict ap pointing LI Hung Chang as minister plenipotentiary to propu.se a cessation of hostile demonstration and negotiate with the powers, a copy of which was delivered by Mr. Wu to the acting secretary of state this (Sunday) morn ing, at 10.30 o'clock. An Imperial edict forwarded by tho privy council at Pe kin under date of the fourteenth day of the seventh moon, (Aug 8), to Governor Yuan At Tsi Nan. Shan Tung, who transmitted It on the sev enth day of the same moon (Aug. in to tho taotal at Shanghai, by whom it tvas re-transmitted to Minister Wu, who received it on the night of the lame day (Aug. 11). The imperial edict, as transmitted by the privy council is as follows: "In the present conflict between Chi nese and foreigners there has been lome misunderstanding on the part of the foreign nations and also a want 3f proper management on the part of tome of the local authorities, A clash 5f arms Is followed by calamitous re mits and caused a rupture of friendly relations, which will ultimately do no food to tho world. We hereby ap point Li Hung Chang as our envoy plenipotentiary, with Instructions to proposo at once by telegraph to the governments of tho several powers concerned for the Immediate cessation or hostile demonstrations pending ne gotiations, which ho Is hereby au thorized to conduct for our part, for the settlement of whatever questions may have to be dealt with. The ques tions are to bo severally considered In n satisfactory manner and tho result of negotiations reported to us for our sanction. Itespect this. "The above Is respectfully copied for transmission to your excellency to bo communicated to the secretary of state for his excellency's Information." Not Entirely Satisfactory. While It la conceded by tho Wash lngton ofllclals that tho conference of plenary authority upon Karl LI to ne gotiate with the powers for a settle- IRE FOR PEACE mont of existing troubles is n stop In the right direction, it by no means is assured that the United States gov ernment will consent off-hand to open negotiations with the distinguished viceroy. Tho demands of this govern ment upon China have been made plainly and without equivocation. They cannot bo misunderstood. Assuming that tho Chinese government is acting In good faith the demands are reason able and can be complied with readily. As transmitted to the Imperial gov ernment by the noting secretury of state through Minister Wu the de mnnds. In brief were: That the Chinese government glvo assuinnce thnt the foreign ministers aie alive, and, If so, in what condi tion. That the ministers be plnced in free communication with their govern ments, lhing upon the legations cease and all dangeis to their lives and lib erty be removed. That the Imperial authorities place themselves In communication with the legation, so thnt the legatloners be HbcraUd, foreigners protected and or der restored. Until these demands have been no ceded to It is regarded as highly Im probable that tho government of tho United States or any of the Kuropean governments, all of which have made j practically the same demands upon I China, will consent to a "cessation of hostile demonstiatlon," which are be ing conducted, at least o far as this government is concerned, with the solo pupose or succoring tho besieged legatloners In the Chinso capital. Minister Wu Is Inclined to take an optimistic view of the situation; but It can be said nuthoiitatlvely that his view is not shared in full by the Washington olllclals. There Is no dis position evident today to abate by on" single Jot the demands which have been made upon China. A strong hope Is expressed, however, that the Chinese government will ac cede to tho demands eventually, and pci haps very soon. This hope is based upon the edict appointing Kail Li to negotiate peace. To this extent it may be said tho view Is optimistic. No direct reply has been iccelved yet to the memorial transmitted to tho Chinese government through Minister Wu by the department of state. It may be that the imperative demands contained in the memorandum induced the pionuilgatlon of the edict deliv ered to this government today, but tho edict In Itself Is not accepted as a reply to those demands. The attitude assumed by the diplo matic lepresentatlves of Kuropean governments In Washington Is sulll cient evidence that the powers will press vigorously the demands which they hnve made upon tho Chinese gov ernment. To Pekin the allied armies will go. It Is declared frankly, un less every demnnd Is acceded tc and all possible reparation Is made by China for the outrages already com mitted. Negotiations looking to any other settlement of the dlsturbanca in China will not be considered seri ously. Conger to Chaffee. During the day, tho war depart ment ofllclals awaited anxiously ad ditional news from Gen ral Chaffee. One dispatch was received from him, transmitting a message ho had le celved from Minister Conger. Evi dently tho message had been delayed long In reaching him and his own dis patch was dated four days ago. The dispatch was ns follows: Adjutant Gineral, Washington: IVilt'iin, Mh message milled todiy: "Pekin, Aug. I. Wo will hold until your ar- rlinl. Hope1 It will bo toon. Send such Infor mation ai you cm. (Stencil) Ponger." Chaffee. It Is presumed at the war depart ment that tho dispatch of General Chaffee was dated at Yang-Tsun and an error was made In transmission. While the message or Minister Conger contains nothing new, It was encour aging to the olflclals to have renewed assurances of his nblllty and deter, initiation to "hold on" until relief reaches him. That General Chaffeo will communicate to the besieged min ister tidings of hope and good cheer, If the opportunity be affoided him, ofllc lals here are certain. Mr. Conner's expression of hope that the long looked for relief may soon reach him simply adds to tho determination cl the government to press forward to Pekin as rapidly a3 may bo possible. PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. Secretary Adee Presents tho Reply to the Imperial Edict to Mr. Wu. Washington, Aug. 12. Tonight Sec retary Adee, by the direction of Presi dent McKInley, presented to Minister Wu for transmission to his govern ment the reply of tho United States to the Imperial edict appointing LI Hung Chang envoy to negotiate with tho powers for a cessation of hostilities. The text of the reply will not bo made public before tomorrow. In effect, however, it Is a reiteration of the demands previously made by the United States upon China, coupled with a vigorous Intimation that no negotiations will be entered Into until tho Chinese government shall have compiled with those demandB. Shirt Waist Police Force. Camdtn, N. J., Auk 12. In pursuance of In structions Ivtiod by Mayor Match, the entire pollco force of thla city today appeand on tho atneta at "lilrt wuUt men." During Ilia paat week tlio folic' men Buffered grcatl from tho beat, ami today tlte mayor notified them that they would bo permitted to patiol thtlr beat without coata. Many of the ottkera wore ua pilidfi. but tomorrow they will Ik) expected to wiar belta. About J00 nun compriko the iwllco force. Killed by Headache Powder. Attoona, Auir. 12. William V. lteedcr, who left hero a couple of "car ago to become a jard dupatcher for the Baltimore and Ohio at I'ilti burs, wa found dead at tho Palmer house, Pat ton, Friday moinlng. It haa to eloped that Ida death wo caustd by a headueho powder, which allected Ida heart. He woa on Ida vacation and had atopped oil at I'atton to tee Ida iwectheart, MIm llird Kurd, lie had the headache and ahe gale him a powder which he took, when ha retired CONFESSED KILLING EXPRESS MESSENGER SOLUTION OP THE MYSTERY OF CHARLES LANE'S DEATH. Charles H, Ferrell Acknowledges Having Shot His Friend In Cold Blood In Order to Secure tho Money In Care of the Express Messenger. Needed Money for His Approach ing Wedding. Columbus, O., Aug. 12. Charles II. Fcrrell, a former employe of tho Ad ams Express company, was arrested this afternoon In this city and has confessed to the killing of Messenger Charles Lane und tho mbbery of tli way safe of the Adams Express com pany on the Pennsylvania east-bound trnln which arrived In this city at midnight Friday. One thousand dol lats of the money which he hod stolen was recovered. Fcrrell was to have been mnrrled Thursday next to Miss Lillian Cost low, daughter of Patrick Costlow, an engineer on tho Pennsylvania lines. He had been discharged from the em ploy of the Adams Express company about three weeks ago and had not since been able to secure employment. He confessed that the motive of th? robbery was to secure money, of w hlch he felt In great need on account -,f his approaching marriage. Tho money recoveied he had given Miss Costlow to keep for him, saying that It was money he had saved from his earnings. Ho was at tho home of his alllanced and In her compuny when placed un der arrest. Fcrrell Is but 21 years of age and has a splendid physique, being six feet in height, with dark hair and an attractive face. When tho offi cers took him Into custody ho as sumed a nonchalant demeanor, but when he found thnt he ."ould no longer deceive the olllcers he made a full confession. After his statement had been taken by Chief of Police Tyler and he was led to a cell In the police station no was In a state of nervous collapse, and orders weie given that he bo watched closply to prevent him doing himself bodily Injury. Had No Accomplices. Tho confession of Ferrell showed ho had no accomplices and no confidants. He know Lane well. In fact, thex were friends, and he relied upon Lane's confidence to help him execute tlv crime. He knew that conslderab' money was always carried by the messenger on Pennsylvania trnln No. S, between St. Louis and Columbus, and that he was certain to secure a large sum If ho robbed the way safe on that train. Having provided him self with n Smith & Wesson six shooter, 3S-callbre, ho went to Uibana, Friday morning, nnd waited for No. S. When the train arrived there Ferrel went nt once to the express car and told Lane that he was out of money, and asked permission to ride to Co lumbus with him. Lane consented, never for a moment suspecting tho treachery of his pretended filend. For a short time after the ttaln left Ur bana they chatted pleasantly. Lane pat In a chair In the end of tho car, with his back --lightly turned. When Ferrell had finally nerved himself for the crime, he drew his re volver and stepped up behind Lane, unobserved, and Ilred three shots In rapid succession Into the messenger's back. Lane rolled off tho chair onto the floor on his face, and Fen ell quickly tired the remnlnlng shots nt the prostrate body. Lane was uncon scious, but Ferrell, fearing that the wounds already inflicted would not cause death, took Lane's revolver nnd Ilred two more bullets from It Into tlw body. Ferrell then took tho key to the way safe from the pocket of the dead messenger, opened the safe and laid Lane's revolver Inside, where he could teach It easily in case he was detected and needed it to defend him self. After ho had taken out all the sacks containing the money packages, money orders and way bills, he placed them In a small satchel and waited until tho car arrived at Plain City, when he slipped off the train. Ife walked about for a few minutes to re gain his composure, nnd went to a hotel, secured a room and retired for the night without registering, a fact of which the lnndlord took no notice at tho time, as he was half asleep. Onco in his room, Ferrell proceeded to go through the packages and take out all tho cash. The remainder he tied up In a bundle. The question or how to get rid of the debris of his plunder and his revolver then confronted him. It was an easy matter to dispose or the latter. Llttlng up tho mattress or tho bed, he placed the revolver In a secure place in tho springs. Ferrell arose early tho next morning ana sauntered down to the railroad sta tion, where ho expressed tho package containing tho debris of his plundei nnd money orders to C. W. Coylor, Lockpoit, N. Y a fictitious name. He then took tho train for Columbus at 6.30. When ho arrived In the city hs went at once to his boarding place and changed his clothes. During the day he paid a number of bills that he owed out of tho money which ho had stolen, and bought some clothes and other things which he needed. Saturday night ho went to see Miss Costlow, and arranged to call again Sunday af ternoon. Tho First Clue. It was at Plain City last Saturday night that City Detectives O'Nell and Dundon obtained the clue that led to Terrell's apprehension. They had been at the hotel at day light while Ferrel was sleeping in an upper room and asked tho proprietor If any strang ers had registered or had been seen about the hotel. The proprietor said ho did not remember having seen any strangers. Later In tho afternoon tho detectles again asked tho proprietor if ho had seen any strangers about and he remembered then that tho man who had forgotten to register had stayed at tho house over night and had gone away on tho early morning train to Columbus. Tho detectives at once searched the room and were re warded by finding Lane's revolver where ho had hidden It. They also round sevcrnl way-bills that had been overlooked by Ferrell In his hurry and excitement while making up tho ex press package. The hotel-keeper was able to give only an impcrrert descrip tion or the strange guest, liecnuse, as he said, he was too sleepy at the time to take any particular notice of him. After learning of the express package the detectives ut onco telephoned to Columbus and had it Intercepted. Tho package was opened and the stolen sacks containing tho money orders, checks and other things which Ferrsll desired to get rid of, wero found. Chief of Detectives Kelly and Detec tives O'Nell nnd Dundon then set to work to run down tho mysterious stranger, who they had become con vinced was an ex-etnployo of the Ad nms Express company. Suspicion soon rested on Firell and he was lo cated at the Costlow residence, whro he was calling on his sweetheat t. Fer rell appeared annoyed at the detectives intrusion. Tno-lntter did not broach tho subject of the train robbery, but told him he was suspected of a bur glary and tney wished him to accom pany them to the police station, where the chief of police wanted to Interview him. Ferrell Confesses. Thinking thnt perhaps the detectives were on the wrong scent, Ferrell nerved himself and said, with appar ent composure: . "I guess there must be some mistake." Ho excused himself to the young lady nnd accompanied the detectives to the city prison. On the way to the sta tion the detectives told Ferrell whnt he was wanted for and what they km w and he reluctantly admlttid that he committed the crime. At tin- police station a written confession wa ta''n ! by the chief of police. Ferrell tried to keep his nerve, but several times he InoUo down and when he was final ly led to a cell he was In a state of collapse. As soon as It was learned that Fer rell had given the money to his sweet heart Inspector Hairon wont to the house and secured It. The young lady was utterly prostrated by the disclo sures. She had not suspected Ferrell of wrong-doing and the news was a terrible shock to her and her parents, who had regarded Ferrel as a model young mnn. The young lady had nev er doubted his story that the money which he placed In her keeping had been earned and saved by him, as he stated. SHARP REPLY OF THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT The Complaint of the Tsung-li-Ya-men Receives an Emphatic Answer in Form of Warning from M. Del- Parls.Aug. 12, 10.30 p. m. The tsung 11-ynmen forwarded, through the Chi nese minister In P.uls, Yu Keng, a message to the Fiench government, complaining of the tardiness of the foreign ministers In Pekin In replying to the offer of the Chinese govern ment to conduct them under escort. The message proceeded to say that tho tsung-ll-ynmen declined to be re sponsible for any casualties which might follow those delays, and Insisted that the Kuropean governments order their representatives to leave Pekin. To this communication M. Delcasse, minister or foreign affairs, sent the following reply: "No order to depart from Pekin will bo given to our minister, so long as the route is unsafe. If a casualty occurs tho responsibility will be en tirely with the Chinese government. Its duty is to protect foreign minis ters even more than its own. "If It be true that the Chlense gov ernment has great difficulty In defend ing them and defending Itself against rebels. It should order Its troops to stand aside before the allied forces. This would render fieo the road from Tlen-Tsln to the capital, and would accomplish the work of protection which Is encumbered. "Tho Chinese government should understand that the only means or proving the sincerity or Its designs and or limiting Its responsibilities Is a cessation In the placng or obstacles In tho way or such an arrangement." THE HOT WAVE. Numerous Prostrations nnd Deaths from tho Heat Backbone Broken by Rain. Philadelphia, Aug. 12. The heat to day resulted In three deaths anl sev enteen prostrations. After a week of almost unprecedent ed hot weather a wind and electrical stoim tonight caused a fall of twenty four degrees. New York, Aug. 12. Tho backbone or the hot spell which for the last week has prevailed In this city, caus ing many deaths and prostrations was broken today by n violent thunder storm, which swept over the city from the northwest. A largo number of prostrations, however, occurred In the early part of the day and before the storm. Thir teen fatal cases were reported up to tonight. MINE WORKERS TO MEET. Convention Will Open at Hazleton Today. Hazleton, Pn Aug. 12. An import ant convention of the mine workers of Luzerne, Lackawanna nnd Susque hanna district will oo opened here to morrow morning. Tho convention will be In session at least four days and probably tho entire week. Three hun dred delegates will be In attendance. President Mitchell, of the National JUno Workers, and members of tho nntlonal board will have charge. Tho questions to be consldeied nro read justment of tho existing wage scale, reduction In the price of powder and the enforcement of tho semi-monthly pay law. A Joint conference, In which tho operators In the region and tho mine workers wilt Jointly consider tho wage scale will be called probably tho third day of the convention. This will ba the tlrst Joint conference held In Ha zleton for many yearH. The six hundred men employed at tho collieries of the Keaver Tlreok company nro on strike because of the refusal of tho company to pay tl'om on tho month, which Is three days be roro the company usually pays. Neither sido has made any conces sions and tho strike may continu) for some time. '' .ji " y - ' "s $ Sit ?! ? tHstpGW. Hk.Tif"t v " "' ,!' "r"' "' " ""IIS i ' "Sy &e& 4?f wu Vw- " -- w3fy W$ j4V?& i&'n "Stwa vw-sr sws8p ''"lHHfcS IMPERIAL JOSS HOUSE AT PEKIN. FIFTEEN PERSONS INSTANTLY KILLED TERRIBLE ACCIDENT AT RAIL ROAD CROSSING. Lehigh and New England Train Crashes Into an Omnibus Contain ing Twenty-five Persons at Slat ington In Addition to the Killed, Eleven Are Seriously Injured No Watchman nt tho Crossing. Slatlngton, Pa., Aug. 12. Eleven per sons were Instantly killed and eleven others, several of whom will die, woto seriously Injured tonight in a. grade crossing accident, thieo miles ast of this city, by a passenger train on tho Lehigh and New Kngland railroad crashing Into an omnibus containing iweiuy-me persons, vii me cicau ami Injured were In the omnibus, and but three escaped unlnjuied. The Dead. n.I Itr.M I.i:V. aidl 70, of SlatlnKton. Mils. KM h W'MAIXY, his wife, .wil f3. Mlts. JWIKS KIIU.V. their ilansliter, nsnl K. SAMITI. MfMMV. ice 1 I'D, of w'alnutport. Jilts. jsVMl'l'L MMt. Ills wife, aecil 53. Ml!. I'f.IAS SOl'ltUIM-:, a widow, ngcil 3.1, of MitltiKton. MRS. WILLI M KANT, nged SI, r,f Walnutpirt. MIsS CMlllli: SMITH, aswl 22, of Woliiutport. Mil. TII.OIIMAN M'.YIZ, asl 3.J, ot Walnut port. Mil". ,IAMi:S MlWiril. aceil .11, of Walmitport. MltS. STIUilUX ULINllMtl), aje.1 (.0, of Mat ineton. MltS. SfSAN roiIIIV. jged C7, of Walmitport. MltS. Af.l'Ui:!) lllll.ltin. of Walmitport. MH. ltOIIKUT SKIIICUT, of Walnulport. DAVID KElt.V, 0-jear-oM ton of Mis. Jamea Kern. The Injured. MM Distlcr, nf Walmitport, will die. Three year olJ con of Mia. Kern, will die. Harry Minnlch, aged 10, of Matinntnn, will die. Mm. William Iteer, hurt intnnilly, may die. Louis Kutit?, seriously, rrny clie. Mi.s Carrie N'anle, ol Walmitport, Internal In juiles may die. fieorife Mlnntili, prolnlily die. flijnn W'nlp, Walmitport. may die. Mltu LlrMe .!or.e, Walmitport, will die, MiM Alice N'asrlc, will reco'er. Crash on a Curve. The accident occurred at 5 o'clock. The omnibus, driven by a man named Peters, was returning to Slatlngton from a funeral the occupants had been attending at Cherrysvllle. The coach belonged to Henry lilttnor, of Slat lngton, nnd the dead and Injured were nearly all relntlvts of Sophia Scoeffer, at wnose oDsequies they Had been pres ent. Tho train was a special and con sisted or an engine and one car. At the point where the collision occurred there Is a sharp curve In the road and tho omnibus came along nt a good rate or speed, the occupants uncon scious or any Impending danger. As the bus swung round tho curve the en gine and car came In sight. It was too late to stop either the omnibus or the train nnd as the driver the for mer whipped up the four horses to cross tho track ahead of the, train tho latter crashed Into Its middle. Tho oc cupants were thrown In all directions, bruised and bleeding. Tho eleven dead were killed outright. Physicians and a special train were sent for and the injured were taken to South Uethle hem. No watchman is employed to warn tenms or pedestrians of any np proachlng train, and those living In the vicinity stnto that It Is impossible to hear an approaching train. FRENCH VESSEL SINKS. Torpedo Boat Destroyer Framee Lost In Naval Maneuvers. Paris, Aug. 13. During maneuvers of tho Fiench fleet off Capo H Vin cent Inst night a collision occunod between tho first-class battleship Urennus, Hying tho ling of Vice Ad miral Fouinler, commander or tlio fleet and tho torpedo boat destroyer Fiamee. The Framee sank imemdlatoly. Tho accident was duo to tho ract that tlio Frameo turned to tho right when or dered to tho left. Out of tho Frameo's crc-.v of fifty-six, fourteen weto saved. Tho loses? in clude three officers, Captain Muudult Du Plessls, the second lieutenant and the chief engineer. WK 'l I ! - ' . r As. V :.!&,. 1 ,r 'i.ufe;1 i . ;. r...l.Ji-.i im j .? THE NEWS THIS 3MJHXIAJ Weather lu.ilcutlons today, LOCAL RAINS. 1 General LI llimji Piling tiheii Authority to Negotiate IV.ilc. Chlni Anxious to II.ixc the MinMcra Out of Pekin. ratal (irado Crosslns Accident Near Slating- toll. Poiiopondcnt P.i-3 KnglUh Soldiers In Africa Are Stan ins. 2 liencral Northeastern Per.nsjhania N'cwv, financial and Pointiiiclal. The Trlhune'a IMuc-atlonal Pontest. .1 Loral Lnc.il Itallani Ponunemorate Klnc Humbert's H.nlh. S-'innon by Ilev. I". P. Doty. Mention of borne Men of the Hour. t Kdltorlat. News and Comment. ,r Local Superintendent Howell Declines to De Democracy's Candidate for Congress. Immense Shops Itelns Constructed by the V.. tc W. V. 0 Local West Srrantnn and Suburban. 7 Hound About the County. S Local Live News of the Industrial 'Vorhl. Thirteenth Iteslment llojs Home Again. BRITISH SOLDIERS ARE STARVING The Representative in South Africa of the London Daily News Makes a Serious Attack Upon tho Meth ods and Red Tape of the British War Office Gen. Rundle's Colossal Task. Correspondence of the soeiated l'r.-6. London, Aug. 12. Mr. A. G. Hnllcs, representative in South Aft lea of the Dally News, Is the latest war corre spondent to nttack the methods and the red tape of the British war olIlc. He says: "Let me tell you how our army In Africa Is treated by the Incompetent people of the good city of London. I pledge my word ns a man and a Jour nalist that every wiltten word Is title. I will add nothing, nor detract from, nor set down aught In malice. If my statements are proven false, then let me be scourged with the tongue and lien of scorn from exciy decent Brit on's home and hearth forex'er after, for he who lies about his country at such nn hour as this Is a traitor. I deal now particularly with the men xv ho mo acting under the command of Lieutenant General Sir Leslie Kundlc. lie Is a good soldier nnd courteous gentleman, has to hold a frontage lino from Wlndburg, via Scnekal, al most to the borders or Ua.stitoland. His xvhole front, extending nearly a hundred miles, is constantly threat ened by nn active, dashing, determined enemy, nn enemy who knoxvs the coun try far better than nn English fox hunting 'squire knows the ground he hunts over, season after season. To hold this vast line Intact, General Handle has to inarch from point to point, as his scouts warn him of tho movements of tho tireless Toe. "General l'.undle's task Is a coloss.i one. Any sano man xvould think that gigantic efforts xvould be made to kep him amply supplied with rood for his soldiers. Hut such Is not the case. Tho men are absolutely starving." Wyoming Primaries. Special tn the Firantem liil'iine. Tuukhannoch, Aiw. 12 The Dcmociatlc prl mirles were held at the xarlous polllnR places aiound tli county yesterday. 'Ihe oontc.t wiis between Hon. A. II. Smiier and tx-Sheitlf P. ,S lnap for tho oltice of riprisentntlw, nnd D. W. Ileiman, of Kjton towmhlp, ami Ilariej Kliklir. of Tunklianiiixlc, for tho office of uo elate- Jiuliie. In tho Klrt ward of the boruutn the di-lcK.itea wire ocried upon and will xote ut the romintiuii on Monday fur Suiters and Mik ler In tin Feiond ward a cuntest xva on, lh'ic lieini; two acta of ileltt-utes In the field, Aw S. Kieler and W. I). (."ran foul running In tho In tirc.t of SquiiT and Herman, and Jamea W. Piatt and V. II. Llttlo rerriwentlmj the Knapp Slikler combination. The matter was hotly contested and the result as announced, waj Kffler and Crawford, 20; Piatt nnd Little, tU Tho comiutlon will bo held at tho court hcu.a tomorrow at 2 o'clock, Troops for China, Marseilles, Auk, 13. The transport Slelboumt with a thousand troops of the .China, expedi tionary corps left at midnight. INCONVENIENT FOR CHINESE Sir Robert Hart Defines the Situation at Pekin. GOVERNMENT IS ANXIOUS Pekin Authorities Evidently Sincera In Their Efforts to Get tho Foreign Ministers Safely Out of Pekin The British Representative Thinks That They Will Leavo Sooner or Later English Press Opinion. Cheng Yin Hunn Ordered to Com mit Suicide. London, Aug. 13, 3.S0 a. m. "Th sooner xve can be got out of this" tha better, for It Is Inconvenient for the Chinese government and unsafe for ourselves," This Is a message received last evening from Sir Robert Hart, dated I'ekln, Aug. f. and sent In cipher to the Chinese maritime customs oillco In London. Commenting upon It, the Morning Post says: "It xvould seem to Indicate that tho Chinese government Is anxious for tho safety of the foielgners, or, nt any rate, anxious to get them safely out of I'ekln, xvhllo Sir Robert Hart evi dently expects that they will get out sooner or later." Sheng, director general of railroads and tolographs, according to a Shang hai dispatch to the standard, expresses grave fears for the safety of the mem bers of the legations xvhon the defeated Chinese troops return to the capital. A dispatch to a news agency from Tien Tsln says: "Junks and stones block the river beyond the advanced posts of the nl lles for a considerable distance, but the dryness continues nnd the country Is In good marching order, subsidiary dykes having made the enemy's dam ming Ineffective. "It Is believed that some five hun dred haxo been added to the expedi tion by the Increased numbers of tho Ilritish naval brigade." General Grodekoff reports to tho Russian war olllce the occupation of; Santehau and the passes across tho Chlngau mountains. Orders haxe been Issued for the formation of two addi tional Siberian nrmy corps. British Opinion. Commenting upon the various propo sitions mnde by China to the poxvers, the Dally Nexvs xvell expresses the predominating Ilritish opinion ns fol loxv.s: "What the Chinese authorities say In effect Is this: Stop your adx'ar.ce on I'ekin and xve xvlll give your minis ters a safo conduct to Tien Tsln. If you do not at once Instruct them to leave I'ekln, xve cannot answer for tho consequences. "To this abominable and not very thickly veiled threat there can bo only one nnsxver; and M. Delcasse ha3 given It In very cogent terms. Tho ministers cannot leave except under absolutely convincing guarantees of safety. In the speedy adxance of tha allies lies the only real hope of sav ing the ministers." In the same vein tho Dally Tele graph says: "American statesmen take up xvhat seems the only logical attitude xvhen they tell Mr. Conger that they havo nexor for a moment entertained tho Idea of his placing himself at tho mer cy of a Chinese ofllclal pledge." Cheng Yin Hunn, tho Cantonoso. xvho xvns the special ambassador of Chlnn at Queen Victoria's Julilee and xvho Is now In banishment at 111, has been ordered, nccordlng to a Shan ghai dispatch, to commit suicide, .m imperial edict having been Issued to this effect. . m SICKLER STRUCK DEAD. A Horso Also Killed by a Sur charged Wire at West Pittston. Special to tlio Srranton Tribune. l'lttston, Aug. 12. PIttp'on xxas vis ited by a very severe storm this even ing. Laxvrence Slckler xvns killed by coming In contnet xvlth an electric xvlre. The fatality oecutred on Wyo ming avenue. West l'lttston. About 0.30 o'clock A. C. Wllllvi-T, or Orange, Pa., xvas dtlvlng doxvn the avenue In a two-wheeled cart xxhen Slcklar asked ror a ride. Mr. Wllllver too'c the man aboard. At Baltimore ave nue the men drove Into a live xvlro xvhlch had been blown doxvn by tho wind. Tho horso xvns Instantly killed and the occupants or the cart throxx'n out. Slckler fell on the xvlre and xv.as immediately writhing In the agony of death: a current of 1,100 xolts passed through him. When taken from tho xvlre there appeared to bo a ray of life in his body and efforts were mndu to restore him. Tho storm xvns especially hevaro In T'pper l'lttston, where th' roof of a double building owned by Mrs. Louis Selblo nnd Mrs. Rose Ilrandenburg, situated on North Mnln street, xvas blown to the street. Tho building Is a dwelling and store. A corner of tho Sterling silk mill xvns nlso struck, but the damage is slight. Two Men Killed. Who. line W. Va., Aug. 1'. -Tonight at T o'clock at Peep Ilun, four miles aboxe this city, on tho Wheeling and Lake I'rie railroad, outhbound coal train Jumped tho track over a etrep rmtankm nt. Two mm ur. killed and two other bad! injured. Tho killed are I Tin. gineer Mike McCrruxy, of N'orwalk, 0., and an unknown hobo. f tf r f WEATHER FORECAST. f 4- Washington, Aug. 12. Forecast for -f 4- Monday and Tuesday! Eastern I'ennsyl 4- 4- vanla Local ralna Monday and probably 4" 4- Tuesday- moderate Umperaturej freali 4- 4- southeasterly winds. 4- 1 ;t -t 4- -t- -t-1 - 4 . -t ;, -t t. ,t f - i ' X J j rJlHi. ..., -